Here Goes With the Steroids Again!!!! Quix HELP!!!!

[spastic]

Hey Momma Bear, quick question, the Dr's are having me taper off the steroids because I am having biopsies.  But I think its a little fast, they had me drop from 20mg's to 15 today and then tommorrow 10 and Sunday 5mg's.  Doesn't that seem a little bit quick?  They said the steroids will affect the tests, but I am so afraid of having another bad reaction.  Shouldn't they of put me in the hospital to moniter this?  I'm sorry to bug you with this.

Love Ya,

Ada

[Rena705]

I love you too Mama Bear and thankyou for ensuring the safety of my dear friend!  I am sooo worried about Spaz and this taper but now it seems all the bases are covered!   I have to say that the education that I have gotten from you Quix in the past few months has been invaluable and I am sure it will be of use for years to come!  Thank you!

Rena

[spastic]

I just love you to death Mama Bear!!!  Thanks a million for always being here for me.  I did give the hospital a call, the orders are there, I think they thought I was coming tonight.  I called my local paramedic friends, they know the drill, I just told them I am tapering off the steroids and am worried about it and if they get a call to come here, they know what they are dealing with.  That was a great suggestion, as always, my Dear Friend.

Love,

Ada

[Quixotic1]

It does seem fast given your prior reactions.  But, you will have some warning with the nausea and vomiting and weakness.  Also abdominal pain is a sign of adrenal insufficiency.  Yes, ideally this taper, given your history, would be done in the hospital, but insurance companies will not allow it.  Is there any one you can stay with nearer the hospital?

Sadly, we have handed over many of the most crucial decisions in medicine to the MBA's.

A thought.  Whenever I had an unstable patient, we would give advance directions to the local paramedics.  If they are called, then they are to do this, that, and the other.  In your case it would be to give IV fluids and (probably) IV Solucortef.  That way, you are safer for that hour to the hospital.  Could you get ahold of your doc or the ER and have them convey this info to the local paramedics?

This would give you a much greater measure of safety.

This is a good thing for anyone who has a condition that might cause them to need emergency care.  Mostly the Medic Alert bracelets will do the trick, but if there is something special, or if the hospital is a long ways, then the paramedics can be given advance word of what they should do.  Or they can be told that the ER has special instructions for this patient.